TV retailing (bid tv)

Member Name: JB01

Product:	bid tv
Date:	31/07/06 (5171 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: In the comfort of your home

Disadvantages: Costs ? Standards, status

Further to the acquisition of my freview digital box another shopping channel review in compararison and contrast with earlier shopping channel reviews. Ideal world and QVC, bidtv. Bid TV originally called bid - up tv and launched by its parent company, sit - up Ltd in October 2000. In June 2003 the parent company launched its sister channel Price - drop tv (see later review).
Bid tv is a digital television channel based in the UK that runs daily live Auctions it was the first channel of its kind in the world. It started broadcasts as pre - recordings and is now completely live. It has become popular by offering a laid-back, friendly approach to its viewers.

AVAILABILITY: Sky 655, NTL channel 924, Telewest 746, Freeview 23. Owned by Telewest broadband.

PRESENTATION

PRESENTERS
· Andy_Hodgson
· Lynn Taylor
· Peter_Simon
· Mark Ryes
· Sean Macintosh
· Carmel_Thomas
· Paul Becque
· Pollyanna Woodward

FREELANCERS
· Tim_Lichfield
· Charlotte Jackson
· Charlotte Mounter
· Bronwyn Lloyd Hughes

ASSISTANCE
· Ruth Miller
· Lisa Leyland
· Liz Summers
· Suzanne Banham
· Erica Street
· Lisa Marie Long

WEBSITE

The website has a functional interface, at the top of the page a login facility to set up your own account plus contact details (helpdesk - return items - queries address).

There is a button with an explanation of bid tv, it describes it thus: over 100 auctions to choose from everyday - with falling price auctions everyone pays the lowest price. There is also a search engine facility for products. Further advice on SUMMER SIZZLERS fills most of the page. To the right COMING NEXT, outline of following auctions on the programme.

THE TV SHOW

Banter is created through the presence of "auction assistants" (mentioned above) who help to demonstrate products, as well as informing the viewer of upcoming auctions.
On screen the bid tv logo appears in the right hand corner of the screen. In the left hand corner triangles with prices (in £ & p - the bid price) which change according to bidding via the telephone. And quantity (number decreases). Exactly how the bidding system works I’ve yet to work out. Here is a quote from some literature that might help to explain. On the channel, an item was advertised with a specific quantity, and a 'bid-up from' price triangle. Customers phoned in and bid up from the particular amount. Recent developments mean that customers pay the lowest price whatever their start bid (see above).

At the bottom of the screen 2 scroll bars, blue & yellow, the blue shows information about the product on sale. The yellow shows detail about the product that is about to follow etc. This is a useful aid to help you plan future viewing without reference to the website.

The set up is similar to price drop TV its sister channel.

MY OPINION

I’ve watched a few times and found the programme does generate some excitement rather like a real auction. Today (31/July/2006) at 15.50 a female presenter practically dressed demonstrated a 1GB MP3 player selling at £32.22. During the presentation she walked to another part of the studio to introduce the next item, a child BBQ. The scroll bars help to plan future viewing in the short term and make for more enjoyable viewing when switching on on the spur of the moment. Like its rivals Ideal world & QVC this is a new concept in retail selling using TV, Internet and telephone. I am poor so I have yet to purchase using the set up. More advice concerning postage costs, quality, delivery time, return of faulty (unsuitable) goods to follow with updates.

Summary: A new way to shop using the TV and Internet.